1st Edition

War in Heaven/Heaven on Earth Theories of the Apocalyptic

By Stephen D. O'Leary, Geln S. McGhee Copyright 2005
    316 Pages
    by Routledge

    316 Pages
    by Routledge

    The apocalypse is a motif that lies behind many religious beliefs and practices. 'War in Heaven/Heaven on Earth' theorizes the apocalyptic as it has arisen in a variety of religious traditions, from Native American religion to Islam in Northern Nigeria and new terrorist movements. Millennial theory and history are explored from the perspective of social psychology, sociology and post-modern philosophy. The volume is unique in applying an analysis of millennial themes to a comparative study of religion.

    Series Editor Introduction - Brenda E. Brasher; Introduction and Overview - Stephen D. O'Leary and Glen S. McGhee; Part I - Core Ideas of Millennial Theory; 1. Charters of Righteousness: Politics, Prophets and the Drama of Conversion -- Ted Daniels; 2. Roosters Crow, Owls Hoot: On the Dynamics of Apocalyptic Millennialism -- Richard Landes; 3. The Millennium and Narrative Closure -- Cathy Gutierrez; 4. Four Stages in the Life of a Millennial Movement -- Albert I. Baumgarten; Part II - Approaches to Millennial History; 5. The Beginnings of Islam as an Apocalyptic Movement - David Cook; 6. Before and Beyond the Sioux Ghost Dance: Native American Prophetic Movements and the Study of Religion - Joel W. Martin; 7. 'The Day is not Far Off...' :The Millennial Reich and the Induced Apocalypse - David Redles; 8. Theorizing Radical Islam in Northern Nigeria -- Rosalind I. J. Hackett; 9. Postmodernity and the Imagination of the Apocalypse: A Study of Genre -- Marc Fonda; Part III - Millennial Hopes, Apocalyptic Disappointments; 10. The Deflating Power of Progress: A Nietzschean View of the Millennial Promise of Science -- John R. Turner; 11. A Cultural History of Dissonance Theory -- Glen S. McGhee; 12. A Cusp Catastrophe Model of Cult Conversions - Leslie L. Downing; 13. The Retreat of the Millennium -- Damian Thompson; 14. The Menace of Media-Driven Public Credulity: Will a Distorted Faith Now Win Out? -- Daniel C. Noel; 15. From Ground Zero: Thoughts on Apocalyptic Violence and the New Terrorism -- Charles B. Strozier

    Biography

    Glen S. McGhee, Boston University, and Stephen D. O’Leary, University of Southern California